Dean's Corner

Dear Alumni and Friends,

This issue of Notebook shares the stories of the people and places that make the College of Science a preeminent center for research and education in Utah. I am proud of the students, faculty, and staff who represent the College and who fulfill our mission each day.

My term as Dean of the College of Science will end on June 30, 2019. It has been a distinct honor to serve the College and the University in this role. I am pleased to announce that Peter E. Trapa, Professor of Mathematics, has been selected as the new Dean, effective July 1. He is a skilled administrator and a brilliant researcher and I am confident he will lead the College forward with great success.

This is an important time in the College’s history. We must balance growth with fiscal responsibility. Student enrollment at the University is projected to increase significantly in the next few years. To prepare, the College plans to renovate and expand the historic Stewart Building, located just south of the Crocker Science Center, to create a new Physical Sciences education and lab facility. This project will require extensive private donations as well as $60 million from the Utah Legislature.

For the fourth year in a row, a science student has been chosen for the prestigious Churchill Scholarship for study at Cambridge University. Cameron Owen, who earned chemistry and physics degrees in May, was one of just 15 students in the United States to receive the Churchill Scholarship this year and he was also selected as the College of Science Research Scholar for 2019. Cameron’s achievements are yet another testament to the quality of education and quantity of research options in the College of Science.

This issue of Notebook also features an outstanding alum from the College. Lynn C. Miller, BS’63 in Mathematics, is a former Executive Vice President and CEO of Pacific Life, one of the world’s largest insurance carriers. Lynn and his wife, Sue, are steadfast supporters of the University of Utah and often visit campus from their home in San Diego.

The College of Science had an exceptional graduating class this year with 658 students total, including 75 doctorate, 92 master’s, and 491 bachelor’s graduates. The path to a Biology degree, a Chemistry degree, a Mathematics degree, or a degree in Physics & Astronomy is not easy, but the rewards are immense. Our convocation speakers, Monica Gandhi, BS’91 in Biology, and Hollie Morales, BS’19 in Biology, provided two powerful examples of this philosophy. You can read their stories on page 22.

The College of Science gratefully acknowledges our alumni, friends, and donors. Your continued financial support and personal participation will be the measure of our success in the years ahead. If you are not yet a member of the Crimson Laureate Society, I encourage you to make an annual gift to the College.

Henry S. White Dean, College of Science